Issue Climate cooperation with like-minded partners and pragmatic green cooperation with China

Summary

With geopolitical risk clouding global clean-energy technology cooperation, the report stresses self-reliance and localisation of core technologies for both national security and industry. It also urges Korea to lead climate talks by expanding multilateral cooperation within a governance system based on universal global norms and by working closely with pivotal like-minded middle powers. As Washington abandons multilateral climate efforts, meeting global goals without America requires stronger coordination with such partners. As a hedge against US-China rivalry, Korea should widen cooperation with the US on hydrogen storage, carbon capture, advanced nuclear power and geothermal energy while pursuing pragmatic cooperation with China where it leads supply chains and technology. Because decarbonisation and climate industries will be core policy in both Korea and China through 2030, the authors see room for joint work on industrial carbon neutrality, building efficiency, responses to CBAM and the circular economy.